Facial & Oral Surgery Institute is open for emergency dental care during Coronavirus pandemic
Facial & Oral Surgery Institute (FOSI) understands the uncertainty our community is experiencing as coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts our daily lives. During these unprecedented times, FOSI is committed to its first priority – the health and safety of our patients and employees and our Woodland Hills, CA community at large.
We are helping our community during these uncertain times by following strict guidelines of national and state regulatory agencies. At this time, FOSI is remaining open full time to accommodate our patients on an urgent or emergency basis. While it is a difficult decision, we have suspended non-essential, elective surgical procedures temporarily to adhere to recommendations as well as to do our part in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
Emergency Dentist / Oral Surgeon
In the event you require an in-person appointment due to a dental emergency or require emergency dental care, FOSI has heightened our existing high standards for sterilization and disinfection to assure a safe and clean environment for our patients and employees.
We have implemented and are reinforcing the following precautionary and response measures to ensure the safety of patients who require in-person appointments or procedures:
Screening protocols
We will screen our patients and staff for signs and symptoms of coronavirus on a daily basis at our premises as well as calling patients prior to their scheduled appointments to screen for COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, shortness of breath). Temperature will also be checked for all individuals entering our facility on a daily basis.
Sterilization & sanitation
To help stop the spread of coronavirus, we are increasing the frequency of facility, surfaces, and equipment cleanings. Per usual operating standards, all of our tools are always rigorously sterilized after each use, or disposed of appropriately. Public areas are also disinfected frequently including door handles, chairs, and bathrooms. Also, we require all individuals seen at our facility to either use the hand sanitizer or wash hands upon entering and leaving the facility or if indicated any other time during their visit.
Protective equipment
Guidelines regarding protective equipment for both patients and employees are strictly followed.
We will provide protective equipment for our patients and staff, including masks and gloves, to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19.
Hand washing
All employees must wash their hands frequently. Handwashing is and always has been mandatory. We are now enforcing stricter standards as well as the mandated frequency of handwashing for all our staff members. Hand sanitizers are also available throughout the office, and compliance with our protocols is strictly monitored.
Social distancing
FOSI is practicing keeping 6-feet of distance from one another where possible. The number one way is closing our office to walk-in patients and those scheduled for non-essential procedures. This reduces traffic on our premises and promotes social distancing. We are seeing patients one at a time. Our schedule is strictly coordinated and adjusted on a daily basis to assure only one patient is being seen during a specific block of time.
We are prepared so your dental and oral health can be a certainty during these uncertain times. FOSI is doing its best to protect its patients and employees from potential COVID-19 exposure while providing timely care. Delaying urgent or emergency dental care can be dangerous. If you suspect that you may have a dental emergency, please contact us today.
FOSI continues to be mindful of the evolving situation and is closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as local and state government orders to ensure we are providing the safest emergency services to our patients. Thank you for your trust in us as we adapt to provide the best care in the current environment.
Emergency Oral Surgeon or Dental Emergency
It is normal to experience fear and anxiety about COVID-19. Experiencing oral issues such as acute pain or discomfort during a pandemic can further increase anxiety, especially when patients feel pressure to choose social distancing over their health. However, dental emergencies are going to happen, and our office is prepared to help alleviate stressful decisions by evaluating and addressing each case separately and providing recommendations through meetings and discussions via phone or online communication platforms.
The best way to determine if an urgent dental situation may require a private appointment is to give us a call at 818-696-5567, and we will help you evaluate needs and concerns in the safety of your home.
Facial & Oral Surgery Institute has also put together a checklist to help our patients evaluate if they may have a dental emergency. Some of the signs and symptoms of a dental emergency include, but are not limited to the following:
Infection
An abscess or serious infection can be potentially life-threatening and should be treated immediately. Indications may include swelling of the jaw and face, facial redness, bad breath, discharge of pus, a foul taste in your mouth, difficulty opening your mouth, and fever and chills.
Severe oral pain
Intense and acute pain are signs that something is wrong. Some examples include a toothache that has increased in severity, jaw pain that has worsened with opening mouth or chewing food. An increase in severity of pain upon palpation of teeth, gums, and face is another sign that the clinical scenario is worsening.
Fractured, loose, or displaced dental implant or tooth
A tooth or dental implant that has undergone structural damage or trauma may cause further oral damage if left unaddressed. Fast treatment can potentially save a tooth or a dental implant. Also, teeth with previous root canal therapy awaiting repeat root canal therapy or an extraction are a source of infection and require treatment as soon as possible.
Wisdom teeth pain
It is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to develop problems that require urgent care. Wisdom teeth can be a cause of swelling, tenderness, pain, and even infections. Third molars in general, whether they are fully erupted or impacted, could potentially be the cause of headaches, TMJ pain, or earache.
Bleeding gums
If you experience chronic or unexplained bleeding gums, it should be treated immediately. Unabated or chronic bleeding gums should not be confused with a little blood from brushing and flossing, which is not an oral health emergency.
Oral ulcers
Chronic oral ulcers, particularly ulcers do not heal or have not healed, that increase in size, or change in surface color and texture, are a major warning sign of oral cancer. Chronic ulcers are an urgent condition that requires immediate attention from an oral surgeon, such as renowned oral surgeon Dr. Navid Senehi.
These lesions need to be evaluated as soon as possible to determine the need for biopsy and definitive treatment.
Face or neck swelling
If any of the above symptoms are accompanied by extensive facial and oral swelling or swelling in the neck, you may need to go directly to an emergency room.
Dr. Senehi has his hospital privileges at Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California. In case of an emergency requiring admission to the hospital, he and his team would be able to communicate in advance with hospital staff, making the process of admission less time consuming and simple so emergency treatments can be rendered as soon as possible.
